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What Hockey Fights Cancer night means to Brian Boyle, Devils

Updated November 24, 2017 at 2:35 PM;Posted November 24, 2017 at 2:33 PM

New Jersey Devils fans hold up a Thanksgiving sign while center Brian Boyle (11) and right wing Stefan Noesen (23) joke around during warmups for their game against the Boston Bruins at Prudential Center. (Ed Mulholland | USA TODAY Sports)

Hockey Fights Cancer night has a little extra meaning for the Devils this season.

When the Devils host the annual event on Friday night at the Prudential Center in Newark during their game against the Vancouver Canucks, they'll be helping raise awareness for a disease that hit one of their own in September.

"The support these guys have given to me throughout, and like I said, the questions they've had to answer, they've had to speak on my behalf sometimes when I haven't been here," Boyle said. "Then when I came back, it's a running story line, you wonder, 'Hey, hopefully it's not getting out of hand here.' I try to remind myself that if we can help the cause, then it's worth it. And these guys have been unbelievable to me."

Along with the tribute to Boyle, the Devils welcomed 8-year-old Abdiel Collazo to be a guest coach for the day. The Perth Amboy resident is currently in remission from leukemia.

Collazo drew up plays and shouted some instructions during the Devils' morning skate, then he stood with John Hynes as the two coaches fielded questions from the media.

"It was fun," Collazo said. "I met Miles Wood. He's been in a lot of fights."

While Boyle will have plenty of attention on him during Hockey Fights Cancer night, he talked the NHL's ability to help younger kids and families fighting the disease.

"Just imagine what he has to go through, through the holidays," Boyle said. "The family and he has siblings, what they're seeing. It affects everybody and it's not fair. It's not fair that kids have to go through this, it's not fair when parents have to explain this to different kids in the family, what's wrong with your brother or sister, or why your brother or sister isn't feeling well. It's the saddest thing I've ever seen."

Boyle also recalled what his experience was like following his diagnosis in September. The prognosis turned out well, but like anyone, the word cancer brought plenty of fear.

"My first reaction was just kind of a pure panic," Boyle said. "I was very, very scared for my kids and my wife. I didn't know what was going to happen with them, because I didn't know what was going to happen to me. And it was a feeling unlike anything I've ever had. I was extremely horrified of what it might be, for the first two, three, four days."

Throughout his treatment and return to playing hockey, Boyle credited his family with getting him through a difficult time. He'll get a chance to thank them again on Friday.

"Hopefully my son drops the puck, he doesn't try to run away with it," Boyle laughed. "Hopefully he doesn't run on the ice and fall or anything like that."